- Joined
- Feb 25, 2021
"Listen, before you set off those fireworks, I have some documents I'd like you to sign."Aw jeepers! We've recently had to arrange a few funerals, will arrange another within the next few months, so the topic's come up a lot and we've been airing out our wishes and such, so getting them to finalize it online should be easy enough if I spend the 4th nagging and nagging and nagging. Thanks for the info! Reading about these details now, and realizing that I'm going to have to redo my own wishes.
If anyone's of an age/chronicity where it makes sense, ask about a POLST/MOLST at the next routine doctor's visit. That's a mini-advance directive signed by the PCP and (most states) filed at a central agency, so a hospital can call and ask for a copy of the most recent version faxed to them any hour of the night.
Anecdotally, end-of-life decisions only get all lawyer-y when the family is deeply divided and able to fund lawyers, or when there's a big estate in the balance. Otherwise, there's anger and recriminations, but just at the family-splitting emotional level, not court.
The requirements for a legally sound advance directive are usually straightforward, not a lot of places for loopholes to hide. Being properly prepared is going to save emotional turmoil and guilt much more than it's going to prevent legal issues. It's still such a relief for everyone to have the patient's wishes recorded clearly.